Sickle-bar attachment.



JTMODERMOTT e J. YANZI'GK, Jn. .SIGKLE BAR ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED HAY 29. 1908.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.A

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JAMES MCDEiai/rorrV Ann JOHN YANZoiciR., or sPEAEEIsE, sOU'rE DAKOTA.

SICKLE-BAR ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

Application led May 29, 1908. Serial No. 435,718.

To all whom it may concern: 3

Be it known that we, JAMES MCDERMOTT and JOHN YANZICK, Jr., citizens ofthe United States, residing at Spearfisli, in the county of Lawrence andState of South Dakota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Sickle-Bar Attachments, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to harvesting machinery, and especially toreaperorV mower cutting` apparatus, and preferably the latter. Theprimary object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the sicklemay be readily applied to or removed from the sickle bar, such operationbeingetfected by a simple bodily movement of the sickle, asdistinguished from the longitudinal movement now commonly employed. Inmany types of mowers it is necessary for the operator to crawl or atleast reach in front of the sickle or beneath the machine, whereby` he`is exposed to great dangerl of loss of life or limb. In fact in someinstances, when a spirited team is employed in connection with themachine itis necessary to first unhitch the team in order that Vtheoperator may safely manipulate his machine.

For a full understanding of the invention, including its constructionand characteristic advantages, reference is to be had to the followingdetail description and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa plan view of a sickle bar and sickle provided with the improvedsecuring means complete; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional detail Aon the line2 2 of Fig. 1,7a'nd Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of one `ofthe pivotedkeepers, showing the same open in full lines and closed in dotted lines.l

Throughout the following detail descrip- -tion and on the several'iguresVof the drawings similar parts are referred to by like referencecharacters.

Referring specifically tothe drawings there is indicated at 1'0 adiagrammatic representation of a sickle bar provided with the usualguards 11, and in connection with which is a sickle 12. It will beunderstood that these parts are or may be of any approved type, and perse constitute no part of our present invention.

The usual method of introducing a sickle into its place consists insliding the same longitudinally from onel end of the sickle bar, anoperationwhich is not only dangerous from the position which theoperator must assume, but one which is often times diiiicult to performby reason of the accumulations or gumming on the guards and sickle bar.

In place of the usual keepers rigidly securedr to the Lipper surface ofthe sickle bar for the purpose of preventing upward displacement of thesickle, we employ a series of movable keepers 13. Such keepers may be'mounted in dany suitable manner, and may bewithdrawn out of the way ofthe sickle by any suitable means, in order to accomplish the resultaimed at in this invention. vAs set forthherein each of the keepers 13is pivoted as at 14 in a bracket 15 rigidly attached to the uppersurface of the sickle bar. As noted the pivot 14 is disposed near oneside or margin of the keeper 13. Extending rearwardly from the keeper isan `arm 16, whereby the keeper may be swung upon its pivot 14; so as tobe thrown entirely out of the way of the sickle, as indicated in thedrawings. The bracket 15 it will be understood is provided with a spacelong enough to accommodate said swinging movement of the keeper. As aconvenient illustration of means for operating said keepers we haveshown a connector 17 in the form of a rigid bar, which is pivotallyattached asat 18 to each of the arms 16, and whereby a single simpleoperation of the connector will move all of the keepers simultaneously.The connector 17 may be provided with a suitable handle or finger piece17 ,whereby the same may be the easier manipulated. When `the keepersare thus thrown out of normal position, the sickle, after being detachedfrom its drivingmechanism, may be bodily lifted out of place, as will beappreciated.

VSuch operation may be performed from behind the sickle bar by the useof only one hand. Upon replacing the sickle the keepers will all bethrown into normal position in cooperation with the sickle Vby a reversemovement of the connector, and the keepers may be secured in such normalposition by any suitable means. The means herein set forth consists inthe use' of a spring catch said guards and bar, and a series of keeperseoperating with said sickle to normally hold the same from displacement,such keepers being movable out of eoperation with the sickle whereby thesickle may be removed from the sickle bar by outward bodily movement.

2. In Cutting apparatus for mowers and the like, the combination of asickle bar, guards secured thereto, a sickle cooperating with saidguards and bar, a series of pivoted keepers cooperating with said sickleto normally hold it in place within the guard s, and means for swingingsaid keepers on their pivots, wherebyT the sickle may be introduced orremoved by z simple bodily movement.

3. ln combination with a sickle bar having the usual guards and a sicklecoperating therewith, a series or' movable keepers attached to saidsickle bar and cooperating with the sickle to hold the same from upwarddisplacement, and means eonneeted to all or said keepers whereby theymay he sinniltaneously operated.

Je ln combination with a sickle bar having the usual guards and a sicklecoperating therewith, a series of movable keepers attached to saidsickle bar and eoi'iperating with the sickle to hold the same tromupward displacement, means commited to all of said keepers whereby theymay be siniultzuiernisly operated, and means eoiperating with saidconnecting means` to seeure the same with the keepers in normalposition.

ln testimony whereof we allix our signatures in presenee ot twowitnesses.

lirlillt ileDlllllO'll. JOHN YANZlCK, Jn.

litnesses Eurzns'r .Yirsox.

H. DEMMON.

